PM Tarique Rahman Inaugurates Training Workshop for New Lawmakers

Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman inaugurated a two-day training workshop for party lawmakers on Friday, aimed at preparing newly elected members for the upcoming 13th National Parliament. 

The session, held at the BNP Chairman's office in Gulshan, marks a key step in the government's efforts to enhance parliamentary efficiency ahead of the first session, which is set to commence on March 12.

The workshop is designed to equip the 209 BNP lawmakers—146 of whom are entering parliament for the first time—with the essential skills needed to navigate parliamentary procedures. 

According to the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atiqur Rahman Rumon, the event was attended by senior party leadership, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and AZM Zahid Hossain. 

The Prime Minister’s daughter, Zaima Rahman, was also present during the inaugural proceedings.

BNP insiders indicated that the curriculum is comprehensive, covering the "parliamentary rules of business and other issues, including code of conduct, bill formulation and review, analysis of budget-related documents, and the activities of parliamentary committees." 

The sessions feature insights from experienced lawmakers, parliamentary experts, and academicians, all aimed at ensuring that first-time MPs can effectively represent their constituencies and contribute to legislative debates.

Addressing the participants, Tarique Rahman delivered a welcome speech emphasizing the responsibility placed on the new representatives. 

A senior BNP leader explained the practical focus of the training, noting, "In this workshop, the party will be given guidelines on how to raise points of order, how to draft and review bills and participate in discussions, how to highlight problems in one's area, what topics to discuss in the President's speech, [and] ensuring the presence of MPs in the parliament session."

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the ruling party's legislative performance. 

With the first session of the 13th Parliament officially convened by President Md Shahabuddin for March 12, the training serves as a critical onboarding process for the new government.